Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Roman Empire Strikes Back/Rubirosa

For many years Chinatown kept expanding while Little Italy kept contracting...yet it seems the tide has been turning somewhat. Over the last few years a load of great old school Italian restaurants/pizza places/speciality shops have been popping up. I think it really started when Lombardi's reopened on Mott & Spring some years ago, but has really picked up recently. L'Asso (maybe the best lunch deal in town, great staff...great food) opened up a few years back on Kenmare & Mott & now Epistrophy is on the other side of Old School Bakery & sandwich shop Parisi (I only recently discovered this place which is over 100yrs old & makes the biggest & best hot & cold hero's) across the street Fiat Cafe opened up. Further west on the street you now have Emporio & Michael White just opened up Osteria Morini on Lafayette. On Bowery you have Keith McNally joining the fray with Pulino. On Mulberry between Prince & Spring you have Torrisi which only uses locally sourced goods & now Rubirosa which just opened up. Before I get to a quick review on Rubirosa lets not forget the Meatball Shoppe on Stanton & further east on Stanton Stuffed Cannoli(amazing multi-flavored mini cannoli's...3 for only $5!...you can get them at the Union Square Holiday market & I believe Whole Foods carries some of their basic flavors).  On wait I almost forgot...Il Laboratorio del Gelato just opened a new cafe on East Houston...of course lets not forget Caio Bella Gelato on Mott.

Whew...OK...now back to the new kid on the block Rubirosa. A brand new old school styled space with a nice long wood bar (with a very good selection of beers) . The menu is a mix of Pizza's (you can get by the slice w/toppings on weekdays) Pasta's, Salads & Sandwiches. So far I've had the pizza...very good thin crust style (need to try the Vodka Sauce), a great sausage & broccoli rabe sandwich, grilled chicken w/fresh mozz & broccoli rabe & their great side salad. I met the owner, his son, & chef when the owner Joe (owns Joe & Pat's in SI) came up to me & asked what I thought while he showed me around the place( there are 2 back rooms...one for a large group & one for grabbing & ordering a pie while having a slice while you wait). They were all great guys & I think they have a winning formula here. The place looks like & is priced for Brooklyn but in Soho with great food. As much as this recession has been less then awesome...it has produced places like this & many of the others named above (did we really need a recession to go back to quality mid-priced food vs. over-priced sea-urchin foamed sea-bream liver?!?). To both find these places & check out their menu's go to http://www.menupages.com/ Manga Bene!



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